"themselves incompetent to preserve the public peace "without being supported by the Military, they should "resign their offices, and suffer the Civic Authorities "to be elected by a majority of the votes of their fellow"citizens. The Council think that a man clothed in "robes of Magistracy ought never to be a politician, as "such a Magistrate cannot be expected to possess the public confidence, without which he will always be "found incompetent to preserve the public peace. "They would, therefore, recommend to the Corpora“tion the immediate resignation of Sir Chas. Wetherell 66 as Recorder, such being the means best calculated to prevent riot, and perhaps bloodshed. At the same "time the Council earnestly recommend Members of "the Union, and Reformers in general, at all times of popular excitement, to use their most strenuous "endeavours for the preservation of the public peace, as it is only by such a course they will be able to "obtain the rights they seek.

"By order of the Council,

"October 25th, 1831."

"J. P. VEN, Secretary."

Did this likewise obtain the sanction of the Member for the City? Has he disavowed any connexion, after such a document, with the Council of the Union; or has he published one word of reproof or remonstrance? Surely these are questions the Citizens are deeply interested in asking-the more especially since Political Unions have been declared illegal.

While the Magistrates were thus appealing to Government, who were now bound on their own responsibility to protect by a sufficient force the important city thus threatened, a very praiseworthy effort was made by Lieut. Claxton, R.N., and some Captains of Vessels in the Port, to form the Seamen, at all times in Bristol a remarkably well-behaved body of men, into a protecting force. A Requisition is made

to the Mayor for that purpose,* and a meeting is accordingly held on board the ships the Earl of Liverpool and Charles,† on Tuesday, the 18th October.

Handbills of the meeting had been issued among the sailors only at nine o'clock in the morning. About half-past one the ship Charles contained about 300 seamen. Mr. Claxton was voted in the chair. He stated the laudable object of those who had called them together "That information had been received that Bristol was full of pickpockets, trampers, and vagabonds, who would take every opportunity to interrupt the administration of justice, and that a great moral effect would be produced, if the Seamen of the Port would enter into a resolution to support the Magistrates." But here there is every possible interruption from Mr. John Wesley Hall, one of the Political Union, and a Radical Party, who had forced themselves into the vessels; the consequence of which is the breaking up of the meeting. After this the following handbill is circulated:

"Bristol Sailors' Meeting.

"At a Meeting of the Seamen, held this day, on "board the Earl of Liverpool, Capt. Claxton, who was

*The following is a copy of the notice :

"To the Right Worshipful the Mayor.

"Bristol, October 17th, 1831. "We the undersigned being anxious, in these times of danger "and difficulty, to express our loyalty, together with that of our "fellow-seamen of this port, to our friend, our father, our fellow"sailor, King William, request you will grant us permission to hold a Meeting for that purpose.

[Signed by twenty-one Masters of Vessels.]

"A Deputation from the above having waited upon his Worship, "and he having most graciously granted their wishes, a Meeting will "accordingly be held on board the ship Earl of Liverpool, at One "o'clock precisely, on Tuesday, 18th inst.

†The Ship Charles lay alongside of the Earl of Liverpool.

"the self-elected Chairman, and who brought the only "Resolution to be proposed in his pocket, on reading "of which some of the by-standers remonstrated with "him on the impropriety of such proceedings, when "Mr. Claxton thought proper to dissolve the meeting; " and, on further remonstrance, informed them that the "ship where the meeting was held belonged to him, "and imperatively ordered every person to leave the "deck. On the persons who composed the meeting, "reaching the shore, a temporary hustings was imme"diately erected, and John Wesley Hall, Esq. "unanimously called to the chair; when the following "Resolution, moved by Mr. J.G. Powell, and seconded " by Mr. Webb, was unanimously carried :

"That the Sailors of this Port, on the present occasion, earnestly express their decided and loyal attach"ment to his Majesty and his Government, but will "not allow themselves to be made a cat's paw of by the "Corporation, or their paid Agents.

"J. W. HALL, Chairman. "Mr. J. W. Hall having vacated the Chair, it was "immediately taken by Mr. J. G. Powell, Jun., when 66 a vote of thanks to the Chairman was carried with "three times three cheers.-Full particulars of the "meeting will appear in the Bristol Liberal of Satur66 day next.-October 18, 1831."

If it be asked what object Mr. Hall and his party had in view, in interrupting a meeting held solely for the purpose of preserving the peace of the city, and assisting the Magistrates, the answer must be sought in the result. Is there not indeed just cause for suspicion that the "magic circle of conspiracy" was pretty widely drawn ?

It has been seen that the Magistrates were thwarted by the Member-were required to abdicate, and were threatened by the Political Union-and now again, how another attempt to strengthen their authority was frustrated.

PART VI.

It has not been yet stated what force the Government provided in this exigency. In a city so large, and (as the author of the Pamphlet dedicated to Lord Melbourne, assures us) containing "an insulted population of an hundred thousand," with places, the sure object of attack to all mobs, widely distant;-in a city where it has been shown the Magistracy were held up to odium, so as to render even self-defence a difficulty, to say little of the subversion of their authority, it would be presumed the Government would now send such a force as should ensure safety. Lyons received a force of 30,000 men? Ninety-three soldiers were thought sufficient for Bristol, "to keep down," as the author of the Pamphlet observes, "an insulted population of an hundred thousand"--but he forgot the insult stipulated for by the Member-which it is presumed, therefore, the soldiers were to allow-especially "the people having made up their minds," and proclaimed (their intentions) at the corner of every street!" Two troops, then, of the 14th Dragoons were quartered at Clifton, and one troop of the 3rd Dragoon Guards at Keynsham-the latter place 5 miles distant-altogether 93 men-with unusual cautionary orders, not to be used but on the greatest emergency.*

It presents a singular inconsistency, that subsequently, during the trials under the Special Commission, when there was, comparatively speaking, little excitement, and nearly 4000 constables turned out,-about 450 infantry, 250 cavalry, and a squadron of artillery, were sent, having Gen. Sir Robt. Jackson to command them!